Industry News - 2020 - Page 17 of 51 | Supply Post - Canada's #1 Heavy Construction Equipment & Commercial Truck Newspaper

Supply Post Sponsored Meals For Truck Drivers This Summer

On July 20th, Supply Post Newspaper sponsored free meals for professional drivers at the Chevron Cardlock in Chilliwack, BC. The featured food truck on site was Dutchilicious, which specializes in Netherlands-inspired snacks.

Supply Post feeds truckers for a day
“We just wanted to say Thank You,” said Supply Post president Jeff Watson. “We wanted to show our appreciation for everything truck drivers have done this year, keeping the world moving and our grocery shelves stocked. The least we could do is buy them lunch!” Watson continued.
Supply Post also sponsored a second day of meals on August 6th, at the Chevron Cardlock in Kamloops, BC. Supply Post treated professional drivers to a meal from the Cookshack Cravings food truck. Also in attendance on both days was regional account manager Jake Peterson.

The sponsorships were part of the Meals For Truck Drivers BC grassroots movement, created during the beginnings of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which helps truck drivers find meals on the road. Starting as a Facebook page created by Brad Wood of Kamloops, BC, Meals For Truck Drivers BC has since grown into a nation-wide searchable web page.

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Aug 20, 2020 - 5 years ago

CN To Purchase 1,500 New Hopper Railcars

CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) has announced that it plans to acquire 1,500 new generation, high-capacity, grain hopper cars with delivery starting in January of 2021. These new railcars will encourage the economic recovery through job creation in the North American manufacturing sector and help CN continue to meet the growing needs of grain farmers and grain customers.
“This investment, combined with our 2020 $2.9B capital investment program, will help us move more grain. We are confident in the future of the grain business and its key role in CN’s long-term growth. By investing in the construction of these new cars, we want to help quickly stimulate the North American economy by supporting manufacturing and agriculture related jobs,” said JJ Ruest, President and Chief Executive Officer, CN.
“CN’s Canadian grain movements continue to break records, month after month, and these new higher-capacity hopper cars will help perpetuate our growth in this key sector of the North American economy. By purchasing new hopper cars for the second time in two years, we are continuing to deliver on our commitment to grain farmers, grain customers and the overall supply chain to expand our collective capacity through fleet renewal. Through this investment, we will be able to support and expand our movements of grain to international markets as demand continues to increase,” James Cairns, Senior Vice-President, Rail Centric Supply Chain, CN.

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Aug 10, 2020 - 5 years ago

5 Things To Consider When Buying A New Excavator

Here are the most important factors you should consider when buying a new excavator - and the right attachments - for your next job.
Excavators have been, and continue to be, one of the most important and sought-after machines in the construction industry. No matter the site or project, it is crucial to have a powerful excavator that can get the job done and be ready to go the next time you need it. Obvious as it may be, not all excavators are the same. Likewise, not all sites and projects are the same. While you can’t necessarily consider future site needs, it’s important to understand what excavators perform best for the work you are and will be doing. With all this in mind, here are the most important factors you should consider when buying a new excavator.

1. Excavation Needs
What do you specifically need from an excavator? This question may seem open-ended, but it is exactly the question you need to ask yourself when buying a new excavator. There are several different things to consider when evaluating your needs from an excavator:
Knowing the spec requirements for the job.
Determining if the excavator is needed for minimal or heavy use. Over usage of an excavator not designed to withstand that amount of work can lead to excavator damage or premature required maintenance.
Understanding the jobsite and the difficulties that may arise from it.
Considering what attachments you may need. Popular and versatile options include couplers, rippers, buckets and hammers.
These are all important factors when comparing excavator makes and models. Failure to take the above into consideration could result in excavator damage, poor performance, poor job efficiency and more.

2. Size
When it comes to excavators, bigger doesn’t always mean better. Understanding what size excavator you need, whether it be compact, standard or large, will be valuable to you and your operating staff. Purchasing an excavator that is too small will result in performance issues as compact excavators do not have the digging power or depth needed in jobs that require large excavators.
On the contrary, purchasing an excavator that is too large is considered overkill in every sense of the word. The amount of investment that goes into a large excavator, whether it be the machine itself, maintenance or means of transportation is substantial and should be carefully considered at every turn.
Fortunately for buyers, there are many different configurations available within each size
category, so it should not be a problem to narrow down your sizing needs.

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Aug 10, 2020 - 5 years ago

Terex Trucks TA300 Proves Top Of The Class On Texas High School Construction Projects

Five Terex Trucks TA300 articulated haulers are rebalancing almost 500,000 yd3 of material in heavy rain to prepare the ground for two major new high school construction projects in Houston, Texas.
It’s back to school for Franco Builders as the family-owned contractor takes on two major new high school projects in the Houston area – Alvin ISD (Independent School District) High School 4 and Fort Bend ISD High School 12. The 550,000 ft2 Alvin ISD High School 4 will accommodate around 2,500 students, while the 485,000 ft2 Fort Bend ISD High School 12 will provide space for 2,800. Both ISDs are experiencing unprecedented enrolment growth with at least 1,000 new students joining each year since 2014. The new schools will alleviate the overcrowding on existing campuses and help future-proof the districts as rapid residential development continues. They will incorporate academic, athletic and fine arts areas and are planned to open in time for the 2022-2023 school year.
Houston-based earthworks and underground utility specialist Franco Builders won the tender to prepare the building pads, as well as rebalance the soil across the entire campuses. “We have over a million truck yards of material to rebalance over each jobsite – it’s a massive undertaking,” says Jose Zuniga, who founded Franco Builders along with Manuel Franco in 2002. Helping Jose, Manuel and their team to complete the work is a fleet of five Terex Trucks TA300 articulated haulers, leased since March 2020 through local dealer Easton Sales and Rentals.

Competitive spirit
“We’ve rented TA300s from Easton for quite a few years now – we just fell in love with them,” Jose explains. “We even rented some for the first few months on the Alvin job but we still have over a year of work to do on the site, so it made sense to switch to a lease agreement.”
“Terex Trucks has a terrific lease program,” says Vic Palermo, Sales Representative at Easton Sales & Rentals. “Each hauler has guaranteed service and full warranty on everything so it’s a good business decision. It can save a lot of money for the contractor and can help them be more competitive in the bidding process.”

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Aug 10, 2020 - 5 years ago

Curb Roller Offers World’s First Battery-Powered Roller Screed

Curb Roller Manufacturing, the world leader in shaped concrete roller screeds, offers the Batt Screed 6000, the industry’s first battery-powered roller screed. The lightweight, versatile roller screed operates with no cords, hoses or fumes, offering unparalleled mobility, precision and efficiency to contractors of all sizes.
The Batt Screed eliminates the hassle of working around a cord and the added weight of an engine mounted on the screed. The unit gets its power from a removable and rechargeable 60-volt lithium ion DeWalt FLEXVOLT battery. Contractors may be familiar with this line of batteries and their versatile use in smaller or heavy-duty cordless tools like hammer drills or cutoff saws. One fully charged battery is estimated to screed off 1,800-2,500 square feet, depending on the slump and pipe length. By eliminating an auxiliary power source, the Batt Screed 6000 can be operated almost anywhere. Unlike gas, electric and hydraulic roller screeds, the Batt Screed eliminates exhaust fumes, power cords and the need for hydraulic power sources, making it ideal for indoor operation or use in tight spaces.
The Batt Screed easily accommodates jobs from 3 to 22 feet with expandable tube inserts, making it highly versatile. This flexibility makes it ideal for both small and large jobs including bike trails, golf cart paths, garage pads, shed floors, grain bin pads and parking lots.
“Our Curb Roller team is continuously looking to lead the industry with products that make customers more profitable,” said Seth Ulmer, Curb Roller Manufacturing sales manager. “We don’t design ‘me too’ products. We provide the tools that contractors want, with the features that allow them to get more jobs done.”
The Batt Screed provides a consistently higher-quality finished product than vibrating screeds or screed boards. It eliminates the need for back-breaking work, providing an ideal solution for contractors who want to get more flatwork done in less time — all with a better, flatter finished product.
Because roller screeds spin the concrete into shape versus vibrating the concrete, larger aggregate, and more of it, remains near the surface of the slab, providing increased structural integrity. Conversely, vibrating screeds use vibration to form the concrete which often causes the aggregate to fall to the bottom of the slab, leaving the concrete more open to spalling.
With a lightweight design and a folding handle, the Batt Screed 6000 is easy to operate and transport. The smart and simple design includes an adjustable right- or left-hand speed control, variable speed in both high and low ranges, and a three-position handle that allows for a more ergonomic operation for operators. The multi-position handle gives operators more versatility when it comes to obstacles or limiting factors during a pour. For example, if a contractor is pouring a driveway, they can position the handle outward to allow them to walk outside of the forms.
The Batt Screed design includes a heavy-duty kickstand that enables the operator to leave the screed free-standing during a pour. Other screeds that don’t have this feature risk being set in wet concrete or dust, which can be detrimental to the operation of the machine. The kickstand increases the cleanliness and longevity of the unit.
The Batt Screed’s kickstand and handle fold and lock away for compact and lightweight transport without removing the battery, reducing the risk of broken parts during transport. The Batt Screed features strong connection points that help prevent unnecessary wear or breakage.
The single pin connection on both ends allows the operator to remove the pipe from the handles in less than 60 seconds. The quick assembly and break down of the Batt Screed enhance productivity enabling contractors to complete more projects each day.
“Time is money on any construction project,” Ulmer said. “The faster a contractor can complete the job and get on to the next jobsite, the more profitable they can be. The Batt Screed addresses that challenge and so much more.”
The Batt Screed’s premier all-steel housing protects the motor and electrical components inside from moisture, concrete and accidental impact, and an access door protects the battery from dirt and debris.

About Curb Roller Manufacturing
Curb Roller Manufacturing has been the world leader in shaped concrete roller screeds for more than 10 years. With high-quality products for everyday concrete work, Curb Roller’s ergonomic machines not only make it easy to shape standard curb, gutter, and sidewalks, but also flume, v-gutter, swale, and other unique shapes. Their flagship product, the award-winning CRM4000 Curb Roller, opened the door for additional products like the Hydra-Screed and the battery-powered Batt Screed and corded Eel Screed. For more information: Curb Roller Manufacturing, 112 South Main, Fairview, Kan., 66425; 785-467-3132; [email protected]; www.curbroller.com; or on Facebook.

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Aug 10, 2020 - 5 years ago

Survey Shows The Impact Older Trucks Have On Safety, Repair Costs And Fuel Economy

Fleet Advantage, a leading innovator in truck fleet business analytics, equipment financing, and lifecycle cost management today announced results of its latest fleet industry benchmarking survey showing the impact new safety technologies have had on transportation fleets, how many fleets are still driving older-model trucks, and the leading reasons motivating upgrade decisions. The survey also shows the continued low demand for electric and autonomous trucks. Click here to see the full infographic.

Fleets with Newer Trucks Benefit from More Advanced Safety Features
According to the benchmark survey, 71% of transportation fleets have implemented blind spot mirrors as advanced safety features, while 66% have implemented front and rear disc brakes. The survey also showed that 11% of transportation fleets estimate they have saved more than $1 million in crash avoidance by upgrading to newer trucks with advanced safety features. These types of safety technologies have led to safer roads for drivers, passengers and other motorists, and have lowered accident costs. This is especially important since trucking fatalities recently reached the highest level in the past 30 years, with the average cost of each heavy-duty truck crash reaching $17.5 million (1).
As fleets begin to realize these benefits, additional statistics prove new safety technology aided in roadway safety, reduced accidents and improved Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) scores(2). Sixty-one percent have implemented forward-facing cameras, and 53% implemented lane departure warning systems. While forward-facing cameras may not specifically prevent an accident from happening, this technology is helping to lower the overall costs involved in accidents and litigation. A University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute study(3) found that car drivers were assigned contributing factors in 81% of crashes involving large trucks, versus only 27% for professional drivers. Forward-facing cameras help offer critical evidence that protects truck drivers in these instances.

Maintenance & Repair Is a Another Significant Reason for Truck Replacement
The bottom line continues to drive many upgrade decisions, and fleet executives are paying closer attention to the costs associated with servicing an aging vehicle. Fifty-five percent of fleets said escalating maintenance and repair costs (M&R), and 47.3% of fleets said improved fuel economy are leading motivating factors for upgrading to newer trucks. This is consistent with the last few years when M&R (40%) and fuel (36.7%) were also top motivating factors. Other factors included driver retention and improved corporate image.
“There remains a distinct correlation between aging trucks resulting in higher service and repair costs, as well as reduced fuel economy,” Said John Flynn, CEO of Fleet Advantage. “This survey tells us that many fleets see these as critical areas in not only operating their fleets, but also the impact they have on an organization’s bottom line.”

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Aug 10, 2020 - 5 years ago

Industry News - 2020 - Page 17 of 51

Supply Post Sponsored Meals For Truck Drivers This Summer

CN To Purchase 1,500 New Hopper Railcars

5 Things To Consider When Buying A New Excavator

Terex Trucks TA300 Proves Top Of The Class On Texas High School Construction Projects

Curb Roller Offers World’s First Battery-Powered Roller Screed

Survey Shows The Impact Older Trucks Have On Safety, Repair Costs And Fuel Economy

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